Latch mechanism



March 7, 1933. K, F. NYsTRoM 1,900,254

LATCH MECHANISM Filed June 14, 195o `2 sheets-sheet 1 {NVE/vra@ KAEL EA/yir/eQM SYMM Malfcl'l 7, 1933. K, F, YSTROM 1,900,254

LATCH` MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14, 1930 Y Patented Mar. 7,1933 UNITED AsraTl:sl'lliAffir-:ENr "oi-Fica KARL F. NYs'TnoM, Voii`MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, 4iissiaivon 'ro CAM-EL coivirANY, oF v CHICAGO,ILLINOIS,` A =CORPORIATIONO`F ILLINOIS LATCH unici-Init*Isin`Application inea June 14,1930. sriai 119.4614168.

This invention relates to latch mechanism intended primarily, though notso restricted, for ap alication with swinging doors which mayb cars.

In latch devices employed in connection with end doors for house cars ithas been the' practice to utilize a main latch for securing Vthe enddoors at their meeting edges and to employ separate auxiliary latchesyspaced from the main latch for the lower edges of said doors. lVhilethis arrangement presented a strong construction at the lower niargin ofthe doors, it was found in instances 'iI of shifting lading, forexample,withiii thev car, that the. main latch alone was insufficient toprovide requisite fastening means `,for the upper margin of the doors.Moreover, the

problem of supplying additional and satisfactory lsecuring means fortheupper part of the doors was further complicated bythe position of suchmeans at a height which prevented ready access and easy operation ,nthereof.

This invention, therefore, has for an object the provision of ordinarilyinaccessible latch means for the upper margin of swinging doors whichmay be employed in house cars, the said means being adapted for controlwithout the necessity vof climbing up on the car.

A further object is the provision of'aui'z-i'v iliary Alatch means forenddoors opera-ble in response 'to 'the movements of main latch means. in 'y It is also an object to provide auxiliary latch means for the uppermargin Vof a swinging door related to main latch means for the door soas to insure latchingof the upper part of the door under conditionswhere such ypart may be bowed outwardly. y

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds,taken in connection with the drawings forming a part thereof, in whichployed on the ends of railwayfhouse Figure 1"is an elevation ofa carendcon struction disclosing latc'lrinechaiiisin embodying theinvention.

Figure Qlis va section taken onf line 2-2 of Figure 1,*illu'strating thecondition rela- Vtive to ythe lleftv hand door which may occur when saiddoor is bowed Voutwardly* at the i upperv part thereof.

rFigures 3 and 4 are detail elevations ofthe lauxiliary latch meansemployed for the upper margin of the' doors. Y

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation Aof a modified construction.vFigureo is a v iewsiinilar 'to Figure 5, i'llustrat'ing the position'ofthe parts' of the latch mechanism when the main latch Ahas .justengaged'with its keeper.

Figure 7. is a sectional view taken online 7-7 ofrFigure 5. Y l YFigures' and l9 are detailed elevation and plan views, respectively,of'auxiliar'y keepers.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l() designates in its 'entiretythe end construction of a. railway house car, including 'a pair ofswinging doors 11 and 12 which, as is customary in such construction,are adapted to overlap at their inner edges. A mainlatch bar 13 ispivoted lfor swinging movement on a casting ,14 shown disposed on thedoor 12.y The latch bar is 'adaptedto bring about engagement betweenlatch means carried thereby 'and keepers 15 and 16 mounted on the carabove and below the doors,'respe'ctively, in ordert'o latch the doors inclosed position;

A limiting stop 17 is carried by the door 12 y and is adapted forengagement with the latch bar.s A'pivoted abutment latch 18, carried bythe7 'door 11, is utilized to maintain the main latch in itslatchingposition. Aux- 4 iliary latch means 19-19 are customarily employed forthe lower margins of the doors.

From the above arrangement of main and auxiliary latches, it is evidentthat the'lower margin of the doors are substantially -secureda'nd thatresistance against distortion,

A co

Abers may be used it sideration of Figure 2.

which may be caused by shitting lading, is greatly increased. lt hasbeen found, however, that the main latch alone, employed at the uppermargin el' the doors, is not infrequently ineiiective to resist thrustand the condition has been encountered whereby both the main latch andthe keeper have been sheared 0E. For the highest eiiiciency in theoperation et the doors for the ends of house cars it is deemed necessaryto utilize a construction at the top ot the doors which will effectivelyo Vviate the conditions set out above. Plhis construction preferablytakes the form of additional latch means, such latch means. beingrela-tively inaccessible,

Constructions have been devised whereby` they may be operated by themain latch from the normal position ot' the trainman.

ln the embodiment of this invention illustrated in Figures l to t,inclusive, there is disclosed a pair ot auxiliary latches 20, 21 for theupper margin cit the doors. rllhe auxiliary latch 20, in itspreferredform, presents in an integral structure a body portion 22, provided atone end with van attaching portion and main 'latch casting` 23 and atthe other end with a. substantially vertical latch ar1nQ/l,`which isadapted for engagement with keepers and 25 mounted on the vdoor and onthe Car, respectively. llhe main latch casting 23 is capable or latchingengagement with a main keeper 27 secured to the car. AThe auxiliarylatch 22 comprises a body portion 28 and is formed at its oppositeextremities with an attaching portion 29 and a latch arm 30. lThe latcharm is adapted' for engagement with corresponding keepers 31 and 32. lnthe preferred 'form noted above one of the auxiliary latches-is shownformed integral with the main latch casting, but it is apparent that asingle formed member mayembody both the auxiliary latches and the mainlatches or three separate memdesired. ln an v event only a single set.of rivets is required for tastening the latch members to the latch. bar13.

The main keeper 2'? is provided with an outwardly tapered portion 83which coacts with the main latch casting 23 to insure drawing of thedoors inwardly into proper position in the door opening. lt is .apparentfrom Figure lot the drawings that engagement between. the main latch andits keeper 1 occurs prior to the engagement between the auxiliarylatches and their corresponding keepers. Such arrangement is deemed highdesirable as will appear from a conln this figure the door 12 isrepresented as .being in a position it would assume were it bowedoutwardly at the top so as to prevent proper seating in thedoor-opening. The position taken by the auxiliary latches is'then asillustrated and it is clear that engagement between the auxiliarylatches 24.-. and 30 and their correspondiary latch 36 willbe releasedfrom its i n during the swinging movement of the main ing keepers by aswinging movement only of the main latch bar is impossible. However,bythe utilization ot the outwardly flared portion on the main keeper aswell as by the provision for engagementfbetween the main latch castingand its keeper prior to engagement between the auxiliary latches andtheir keepers the bowed portion ot the door will be forced inwardly intothe door opening during swinging movement 'of the main latch and theauxiliary latches will also be given a transverse movement whereby theywill be brought into proper alignment with their keepers so as to insurethe desired latching. 'lie condition treated abovel in respect` to door12 applies as well to door 11 or to a condition in which both doors arebowed outwardly.

rlhe principle of the invention is also enibodied in the constructionshown in Figures 5 to 9, inclusive. ln thisenibodiment Athe latch bar lis provided adjacent the latch casting 23 with a bracket 3- to which oneend of the arm 35 is pivoted. 'lh'e other end oi the arm is pivotallyconnected to an auxiliary latch 3G, which is swingably intermediate itsci ils in a bracket 3'4" carried by the door. The auxiliary latchadapted for engagement with a keeper 38 secured to the car above thedoor. Extending trom the opposite side oit the bar 13 is a catch member39 rigidly carried by said bar. The catch member is provided withabutment portion l0 adapted for engagement with one end of a separablecatch al as hereinafter described. 'lhe other end et said separablecatch is pivotally connected to a second auxiliary latch 42 and saidsepara-ble catch intermediate its ends is supported by means of a lug453 projecting 'from the door 11. 'lhe latch l2 is pivotally mounted ina bracket 44C secured to the door 11 and has operative engagement with akeeper l5 fastened to the car. As in the previous embodiment a lia-redkeeper 1.1-6 similar to the keeper 27 isemploycd in connection with themain latch.

' lt is plain t'rom the foregoing that as the latch bar 13 swings towardthe lett as viewed in Figure 5 to release the doors the catch meinber39, by its engagement with the separable catch member 41, will draw thelattertoward the lett. :During this movement the separable catch willalso swing upwardly because of its engagement with the lug 43 so thatwhen the main latch and the auxiliary latch l2 are released from theirkeepers the catch. members will be disengaged and the doors may beopened. lt is apparent that the other auxil- Dcr latch. yWhen it desiredto latch the doors they are closed, the latch bar swung toward theright, the latch and the ilared keep 2 Il@ will, by their engagement,force tn top of the doors inwardly and ring about correct alignmentbetween `the .auxiliary y'latches fand keepersso, as to insurepositivellatching of the doors. During the movement of thelatch barfftheabutment portion- 40 `makes contact with theY `separable catch memberll., forcingit downwardly and'to they rightr thereby in'--suringengagement between the latch 42 keeper 45. The swinging of thebar' 13 alsov moves the latch' 36into engagement withfits keeperBS Vandthedoors VVwill be fastened. y 1 I Many modifications inthe detailsofthe embodiments ol the invention' may be madey without vdeparting fromthe invention and it f ment thereof.'

each of said doors spaced from said Vmain, latch means, lconnectionsbetween said latch p l 'ineans, whereby said auxiliary?v latch means .isintended to include therein allsuch modiappended hereto;

.Iclaim:` 'J p l. A latch mechanism comprising a main swinginglatchrauxiliary swinging latches on ication's as fall within thescope-ofthe claims opposite sides of said'mainlatch, connections betweensaid-."inain and auxiliary latches Aelieectiifig p y latches and`keepers co-operablefwith said latches,said main latch engagingfitskeeper during moving of saidl latches to latching position priorfto theengagement or' said auXilia-rylatclies with their corresponding keepers,saidinain latch keeper havingmea'nsV adapted'toimpart movement to saidlatches substantially Vnormally to `the swinging move- 2.'llhe'combination witha pair of voverlappin'gswinging doors, of a mainlatch devicez swingably mounted door vfor latching said doors in closedyposition, auxiliary latch devices for said doors havingportionseXtendingabove said'doors, arms connecting said main andauxiliary. devices and keepers co-operablewith saidy `latci'i devices,said rauxiliary latch vdevices being engaged with and disengaged fromjtheirlk'eepers responsive to the swinfring movements of said mainlatch. 1 8. The ycombination with a pair offswing-A ing doors, of mainlatchmeans `for latching `both said doors, auxiliarylatcli'means forwill'be moved `to operative and inoperative positions lresponsive tothe'movement `ofthe main latch means, and allared keeper for f each ofsaidflatch means, the keeper for said main latch means beinglared to agreater 'extentthan thekeepers for said auxiliary v latch means.

ico

a.v The combination with a pair of Swing-` ing doors, ofa latch'mechanism comprising 'a main swinging latch* for fastening said doors,auxiliary latches on'opposite sides of said main latch, connectionsbetween said main and auxiliary latches to eect simultaneous movementoi'said latches,v keepers for outwardly the respective latches having..-j flared' portions, the flaredzportionl ofI the main with said keeper.

simultaneous movement of said.

on said overlappin g y keeper extendingV aV substantial distance ioutwardly beyond the corresponding portions of Said auxiliarykeepers,,said flared portion of lthe main keeper cooperating with said ymainlatch incertain positionsof the doors-to l`force vsaidy kauxiliary.latches Asubstantially normally to said4 doors into alignment withltheaux-Y iliary keepers whereby they may be engaged.

l f 5. VThe combination with a mainlswinging l latch for a lpivotallymounted door, off-an vauxiliary latch forsaid door, meansico-operatively connecting said latches foi'simultane- ,Y

ous movement, a keeper forsaid auxiliar-yl latch and means cooperatingwith said'maiii l y "80 .l both said latchestransverseito'thewplane'in-` which the Ylatches swing, f whereby thelauX- latchand adapted to'imparty amov'einent to iliary l latch may bebrought into alignment 1 c." Thefeojmbinaaon with a `both` said doors,`l auxiliary latch means Qffor eachof saidldoors supported from saidmain latch means'in spaced'relation theretoindependently of ysaid-doors,keepers for' all said i latch means, whereby` said auxiliary latch meanswillbemoved to operative yandinf operative positions relative to r'saidkeepers 7. In combinatioma hinged'doors,

a swinginglatch bar pifvotally mounted on one of saiddoors forlatchin'gfb'oth.saiddoors,

a swinging latch pivotally connected vrto. said latch bar foradditionally".latchingl one of .said doors anda swinging'latchforadditionally latching'the other of said doors, said last mentionedlatch having releasable conn ection with said latch bar,

8. In combinatioma pair ofhinged'fdoorsC Iadapted: to overlap in closedposition, a main 'latchfor latchingsaid doors, an auxiliary latchforsaid overlapping ,door,lsaid auxp iliary latch `being operable .bythe main latch,

pair ofswingi responsiveqto the vinovement,lofthe kmain latch means. c

iiioo anauxiliary latch'for the other door support-@V110 ed thereon, yseparable Ameans connecting said last vmentioned kauxiliary latch to'sai`d main latch andmeanscarried by vsaid last mentioned doorg to effectautomatic separation of Y said vconnecting meansv during movement olfil'sai'dfmain latch to lnoperative position.

` 9. Incombination, a pair of hinged doors. having overlapping marginalv"portionsf a main latch mounted onthe overlapping doorh 'Y 'forlatching said doors, kan, auxiliarylatchf for said door connected vtosaid main latch for movement therewith, a swinging -`aux--v'iliaryjlatch forthe other door and separableV meansconnecting` saidlastmentioned auxiliary latch andsaid main-latch', said connect-"- ringmeans comprising a member provided witha hooksecured 'tosaidinaiii latchand i a lever-provided .with a hook pivotally secured toV said auxiliarylatch, the hooks lof sa-idrmember and-said lever beingin-engage-139` iment whenr said latches are in operativeposition. i Y

10. In combination, a pair 'of hinged doors having overlapping marginalportions, a

v main latch mounted on theoverlapping door for latching said doors, anauxiliary latch for said door connected to said main latch for movementi therewith, a swinging auxiliary latch for, the other door, separablemeans connecting said last mentionedy auxiliary latch and said mainlatch, said connecting vmeans comprising ka member provided with f Vahook secured to said main latch and a lever provided with a hookpivotally secured to i said auxiliary latch, the hoolrsoii said memberand said lever being in engagement when vsaid latches are in operativeposition, and

ljwith a hook` secured to said main latch and said latches toinoperative position 50 a lever provided with a hook pivotally securedvto said auxiliary latch, the hooks of said, member and said lever beingin engagement ,when said latches are in operative position, and meansautomatically edecting separation of saidseparable means during movementof said latches to inoperative position, said separating meanscomprising a lug secured to said last mentioned door in engagement withthe underside of said lever.

l2. In combination, a pair of hinged doors having overlapping marginalportions, a main latch mounted on the overlapping door for` latchingsaid doors, an auxiliary latch Jfor said door connected to saidmainlatch for movement therewith, a swinging auxiliary latcli'lor the otherdoor, separable means connecting said last mentioned auxiliary latchandsaid main latch, said connecting means comprising a member provided witha hook secured to said main latch and a flever provided with a hooi;pivotally secured to-.said auxiliary latch, the hooks of lsaid memberand said lever being 'in engagement Vwhen .said latches are in operativeposition,

means automatically eiiecting separation of said separable means duringmovement of and an abutment provided on said member engageable with saidlever during movement of said main latch to operative position to effectmovement of said last mentioned vauxiliary latch and to restore theengagement vbetween said hooks;

latching said 13. lThe combination with a pair of overi lappingswinging'doors, of vmechanism for doors,- said mechanismcomprising anoperating bar pivotally mounted upon the overlapping door -for swingingmovement in a substantially vertical plane, a latch armfor each of saiddoors, means establish- `ing operative'engagement between said latcharms and said operating bar, said latch arms extending beyond said doorsand keepers positioned beyond said doors and adapted to engage saidarms.V l

14. The vcombination with a pair of' overlapping swinging doors, ofmcchanism'i'ior latching the yoverlapped door comprising a verticallyswingable operating bar pivotally mounted upon the overlapping door, `alatching arm for said overlapped doorr lyingiii overlapping relationshipthereto and extending beyond on'e edge thereof, a 1Keeper positionedbeyond said door adapted to have cooperative engagement with said armand means connecting said bar and said arm.

l5. The combination with a pair of swinging doors `having overlappingmarginal engagement, of a latch mechanism for each ci said'doors adaptedto effect latching of the upper margins thereof, each of said latchmechanisms comprising a latch arm extending above said upper margins anda lreeper positioned above said doors and adapted lto be engaged bysaidv latch arm, said-latch arms being inaccessible 'from the normaloperating position and an operating bar pivoted to said overlapping doorto swing in a vertical plane, said bar being readily accessible from thenormal operating position and being operable to project and retract saidlatch armsirelative to said keeper.

16. In combination, a pair of hinged doors to overlap in closedposition, a main latch for latching said doors, an auxiliary latch forsaid overlapping door, said auxiliary latch being operable by the mainlatch, an

auxiliary latch for the other door supported l" thereon, means operab'lyconnecting the latch actuation thereby, said means being yseparable inthe movement of said-latches to .in-

.operative position and adapted to reestab- V.lish operativerelationship in the movement or said latches to operative position.

17. The combination with ay pair of swinging doors having overlappingmarginal en-` gagement, main swinging latch mechanism Ior latching saiddoors, auxiliary swinging latch mechanism for each or said doors, saidyior theother door to said main latch Jfor mainy and auxiliary latchmechanisms having swinging movement about a commonsaid main latch memberand an arm extendl! K of said latch members.r

1 vas` ing at an angle to said body portion, a keeper secured to saiddoora keeper secured Vabove said door, 'said auxiliary latch memberbeingv Swingable lresponsive to: the swinging movement of seidmainrlateh member, said.

llatch-arm having engagement vwith seidlestl K operative positionmentioned keepersv in the Signed at Chieago,'111inoi, this v12th `day y,K ofJune, 1980. l, K K, K K f KARL' F. NYKSTROMK. KK

